Netherlands - Sweden: score, highlights and statistics

Netherlands face Sweden in a pivotal Group F clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup - a match that will go a long way toward deciding who advances from Houston as group leaders.

Match Info: Netherlands vs Sweden

Netherlands vs Sweden kicks off on Saturday, 20 June 2026 at 18:00 BST (17:00 UTC) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The match is part of the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Where to Watch Netherlands vs Sweden?

Viewers in the United States have several options. The game is broadcast on FOX on television, while streaming is available via FOX One, Foxsports.com, Fubo TV, and Peacock. Spanish-language audiences in the US can follow the action on Telemundo (TV), Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (online), or listen on Futbol de Primera Radio.

Fans in Canada can stream the match on TSN+, while viewers in Australia can catch it on SBS On Demand and those in New Zealand on TVNZ+. Dutch supporters at home can watch on NPO Start, France on beIN SPORTS CONNECT, Spain on DAZN España, and Italy on DAZN Italia.

Elsewhere, Brazil has the match on CazéTV, Mexico on VIX, and Argentina on both DIRECTV Sports Argentina (TV) and DIRECTV GO (online).

Netherlands vs Sweden - Match Preview

Netherlands arrive in Houston as favourites, but their inconsistent pre-tournament form and Sweden's match-winning forward Viktor Gyökeres make this a genuinely open fixture with major knockout-stage implications.

Netherlands are three-time World Cup runners-up and one of the most decorated nations in tournament history. Ronald Koeman's side carry a historically impressive World Cup record - 30 victories from 55 matches (excluding penalty shootouts), placing them third in all-time win rate behind only Brazil and Germany. Crucially, Netherlands have not lost a World Cup group-stage game since 1994, and the Opta supercomputer gives them an 88.2% probability of advancing from Group F.

Sweden arrived at this World Cup through a narrow qualifying path that required a European play-off. They finished 4th in their qualifying group, but Viktor Gyökeres turned the play-offs into a personal showcase: 4 goals, including a hat-trick against Ukraine and a 93rd-minute winner against Poland in the final. Under manager Graham Potter, Sweden face Netherlands in what may well be the most important match of their entire group campaign.

Head-to-Head: Netherlands vs Sweden

The two nations have a long but relatively sparse rivalry at senior international level - Netherlands hold the overall upper hand, but Sweden are capable of disrupting even the most organised of opponents, as their play-off campaign demonstrated.

Here are their most recent meetings in full international competition:

• 10 October 2017 - FIFA World Cup Qualifier - Netherlands 2:0 Sweden
• 6 September 2016 - FIFA World Cup Qualifier - Sweden 1:1 Netherlands
• 11 October 2011 - UEFA Euro Qualifier - Sweden 3:2 Netherlands
• 12 October 2010 - UEFA Euro Qualifier - Netherlands 4:1 Sweden
• 19 November 2008 - Friendly - Netherlands 3:1 Sweden
• 19 June 1974 - FIFA World Cup - Netherlands 0:0 Sweden

Netherlands - Recent Form

Netherlands enter the World Cup with a mixed record over their 5 most recent matches: 1 win, 3 draws, and 1 defeat, scoring 8 goals and conceding 4.

A 0:1 loss to Algeria on 3 June 2026 in a pre-tournament friendly was an unexpected setback that sent a cautionary signal before the tournament opener. Prior to that, the Dutch drew 1:1 with Ecuador on 31 March 2026, having beaten Norway 2:1 on 27 March. Memphis Depay, the Netherlands' all-time top scorer with 55 international goals, remains the focal point of Koeman's attack, with 8 goals in qualifying and 4 assists shared alongside Cody Gakpo.

In November 2025, the Dutch were dominant in a 4:0 win over Lithuania before a 1:1 draw in Warsaw against Poland - a result that again underlined the occasional fragility away from home. That said, Netherlands' World Cup pedigree speaks for itself: only 1 defeat in their last 19 matches at the tournament.

Sweden - Recent Form

Sweden arrive at the World Cup in difficult form - 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 defeats in their last 5 matches, with 8 goals scored and 10 conceded, suggesting a team that can create chances but struggles defensively.

A 1:3 defeat to Norway on 1 June 2026 in the final pre-tournament test was hardly confidence-inspiring. Before that, Sweden won 3:2 against Poland in the play-off final on 31 March - thanks in large part to Gyökeres - but were held 1:1 by Slovenia in November 2025 and lost 1:4 to Switzerland the same month. Those results paint a picture of a team that relies heavily on individual brilliance rather than collective solidity.

Viktor Gyökeres is the undisputed focal point of Sweden's attack. His ability to win a match on his own is Sweden's greatest asset in Houston - and their biggest hope of advancing past Netherlands and into the knockout rounds.

Facts and Statistics

4 key facts about the Netherlands vs Sweden rivalry ahead of their 2026 World Cup encounter:

• Netherlands have reached 3 World Cup finals (1974, 1978, 2010) - the only nation to do so without ever lifting the trophy.
• Netherlands have won 30 of 55 World Cup matches (excluding shootouts) - the third-highest win rate in the tournament's history.
• The only previous World Cup meeting between these two nations ended 0:0, in the 1974 group stage in West Germany.
• Viktor Gyökeres scored 4 goals in the UEFA World Cup play-offs, including a hat-trick against Ukraine and the winning goal against Poland.